The 2014-2015 contest is now closed.

The National Center for Policy Analysis and Debate Central are proud to announce the 2014-2015 Young Patriots Essay Contest! Entrants have the opportunity to compete for $10,000 in scholarship money.

The Young Patriots Essay Contest is designed to challenge high school students to creatively solve problems in the realm of economics and public policy through the art of writing. We assign a controversial topic each year and only THREE winners are chosen out of hundreds of essay submissions. Find the topic and entry instructions below the fold!

The topic of the 2014-2015 essay contest is:

“Drawing on the readings, discuss the relationship between individual freedom and social/economic prosperity. Feel free to incorporate outside research.”

Please read the following two pieces as you consider the above topic. Your submission will be graded in part according to how carefully and thoughtfully you engage with these challenging articles. They are:

You may also incorporate outside research into your writing. Although this is not required, it may improve the overall quality of your essay.

Your essay should be written in English and should not exceed 1,200 words.

For more guidelines on submission and formatting of entries, see below.

All essays must be submitted by Monday, January 5 2015 at 11:00pm CT. No late submissions will be accepted.

Submit your completed essay via email to Rachel.Stevens [at] ncpa.org. Be sure to include your name, address, phone number(s), and email address in the body of the essay document. Your personal information does not count towards your total word count.

UPDATE: The 2014-2015 contest is open to middle school students, as well as high school students. Please disregard any conflicting information.

Entrants have the opportunity to:

Earn a college scholarship of up to $5,000

Win a FREE trip to Dallas, TX for you and a parent to receive your award at a special event

Have your essay published on Debate Central

See your essay posted on the National Center for Policy Analysis (NCPA) home page

Have your essay shared with 350,000 NCPA Policy Patriots via email

Have your winning entry be sent to your hometown newspapers, radio and TV.

Young Patriots Submission Guidelines

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q. How should I format my entry?

A. Essays should be written in English, with submissions of up to 1,200 words. Essays exceeding this length will not be considered. Please submit your entry as a Microsoft Word document.

Also be sure to include all essential information, including your name, address, phone number(s) and e-mail address in the body of the essay. This information does not count against your total word count.

Q. How do I submit my entry?

E-mail your submission to Rachel.Stevens [at] ncpa.org.

Each e-mail submission will receive a return message verifying that the essay was received.

Q. What happens if I exceed the word limit?

A. Your essay will not be considered. There is no word minimum.

Q. Who is eligible to enter?

A. Any current middle or high school student or recent graduate who has never enrolled as a degree-seeking student in any college/university.

If you have enrolled in a college course for dual credit with your high school, you are still eligible.

Q. Are homeschool students eligible?

A. Yes!

Q. Are international students eligible?

A. Yes, as long as they meet the criteria above and write the essay in English.

Q. How can I spend the scholarship money?

A. For tuition or related expenses at a college or university of your choice. You are NOT allowed to spend the money on non-educational expenses.

Q. Can I choose to remain anonymous?

A. No. We must be able to publish both your essay and name.

Q. How should I format citations?

A. In the Modern Language Association (MLA) format. Citations should be listed in a ‘Works Cited’ page at the end of the document. An example of a citation in this format from a web resource is listed below:

The works cited page should not be included in your overall word count.

Q. Do I need to attach a cover letter?

A. No, but make sure you include your name, address, phone number(s) and e-mail address in the body of the e-mail.

Q. Is there anything else you can tell me about how to stand out from the crowd?

A. Yes. Here are a few suggestions for participants:

Stick to the subject and topic. Submitting your essay in the proper format is essential, but the substance of your essay is the most important part. If you write a fantastic essay that doesn’t address the central question you won’t win.

Submit a professional document. Double check grammar and spelling and try to make rambling sentences more concise.

Follow and demonstrate a clear vision. This contest leaves lots of room to address the subject in a variety of ways. Students should attempt to be creative, clear and persuasive in their approach to the topic.

Include your perspective on the works. Show us that you have read and considered the material. Do not simply summarize the readings but rather explain how they influence your thinking on policy.

Q. Do I need to agree with the authors?

The short answer: No. The longer answer: No, but you should warrant your disagreement with outside sources and research. Make sure your argument is complete, articulate and supported. Avoid ad hominem attacks that indict the author without properly considering the merit of the argument.

Q. Is there just one prize?

A. No. First, second and third prizes will be awarded in the amounts of $5,000, $3,000, and $2,000 respectively.

Q. I sent you an email and haven’t heard back. What is the problem?

A. Most likely nothing. Our offices are closed periodically in late December and early January for the holidays. If your message was sent during this time, you should have received an automatically generated reply. Check your spam folder. If you did not receive any sort of reply, please try re-sending the message. If that fails, leave a time-stamped comment here and we will get back to you ASAP.

PRIVACY: This scholarship is funded by the National Center for Policy Analysis, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public policy organization. Any personal information collected from non-winning entries is used only in aggregate to gauge participation statistics. Contest winners must agree to have their name, school, grade level, home town, and essay made public for site usage, NCPA newsletter, etc. Beyond the initial confirmation email, contest entry will not result in any further communication or solicitation from Debate Central or the NCPA. We will never sell or otherwise distribute your personal information to third parties.

Any questions? Leave them in the comments. We’ll get back to you right away.

Good luck!

247 Comments

All high school and middle school students are eligible to compete. If you are a high school student at the time of the January 5 deadline, you’re eligible. Recent high school graduates who have not yet enrolled in any college or university (AP or dual credit are ok) are also eligible. Thanks for your interest; we hope you’ll choose to enter!

[…] The Young Patriots Essay Contest is currently being offered by the National Center for Policy Analysis. This is an essay contest open to all high school students. The winner will receive a $5,000 college scholarship, second place will receive a $3,000 scholarship, and third place will receive a $2,000 scholarship. […]

Hello. I am a student who has just graduated from community college with an A.A. in Liberal Arts and Humanities. I am currently not attending university but am planning to study abroad in a Japanese language school in Kyoto, Japan next April. THe scholarship money would be a tremendous help in covering costs. Am I eligible to participate in this contest? I say again, the prize money would cover a substantial amount of costs at the school I’m planning to attend. Thanky you, Uriel

When do you announce the readings for next year. This looks like a summer reading and writing activity I could be passionate about. BUT I am taking 4 college classes and am involved in all kinds of volunteer and competition activities and do not have room for more reading. When does this go live for 2015? Like to plan for this.

Good suggestion! We usually announce the prompt in August but can certainly look at releasing the contest earlier in the future. We’re sorry if you feel that you don’t have enough time to complete the contest this year! We’d still like to see you enter, however — you have a few months to work on the topic and we’d be happy to answer questions if you have them.

Policy changes sgould include getting rid of clubs that helps our future students. I feel as though the governemtn is a big influencer in the policy changes and with that. We need to include both policies to help us and the government people who request it

Hello i am edaso from Ethiopia. I am just intending to be part of this competition.what i want you to know about me is that i am currently learrning in one university of my country;just a second year student.so am i eligible to move on? Thank you in advance.

Im a Zimbabwean High School student in Zimbabwe. If I win, can i use the scholarship money here at a Zimbabwean University? And what happens if im on another scholarship? Also when are the winners announced?

In the caribbean we do CXC, i am currently doing it homeschooled and would be taking the examination in january, HOWEVER, i am not technically enrolled in a HS again but i am doing the normal exam with everyone else…Can i still enter?

I’m currently a policy debater in Massachusetts debating the current resolution (Latin American Economic Engagement). Is it permissible to use current Affirmatives and cards on the topic as part of this essay as both the subject and evidence (like using the example of the Cuba Aff which lifts the embargo on Cuba which will lead to economic prosperity)?

You can use whichever policy example you like, but the most relevant criterion is that you demonstrate that you both read and understood the supplied readings. You also will want to format your essay in MLA, not as debate evidence. Thanks, and good luck!

Hello and thank you for the contest. For what purposes can the scholarship money be used, if won? I ask because I am looking at this for my daughter, who already likely has a scholarship that will cover tuition, fees, and books. Could this be used for other needed materials, housing expenses, etc?

Hello,
I was wondering to what colleges is this scholarship good for? Do we have to apply for this scholarship or do we simply submit the essay in time before the deadline and acquire it?
Thank you for your time!!

The scholarship is good for use at any college of your choice. You can also use it for books or other expenses. In order to apply, simply submit the essay along with your name and contact information. We will get in touch with the winners, once they are selected. Thanks for your question!

The essay topic is “According to the four required readings. What policy changes should the government pursue in order to best foster economic prosperity?” You can submit it by email to Rachel.Stevens@ncpa.org

Do you want the majority of the essay to contain explanations of the articles and the policy thinking that they suggest, or would you prefer for the majority of the essay to talk about our views on policy as pertaining to the question?

Thanks for your question! How exactly you write the essay is up to you. Generally, we would like you to focus on how the readings inform your views on public policy. It is not essential that you agree with all of the readings, but it is important to engage them. I hope this helps.

Hello!
The sources seem to be vastly theoretical, so I am confused as to how we are supposed to be supplying specific “policy changes”. Are the sources merely an intellectual stimulation from which we must creatively develop our own personal opinion? Also, may I use other sources?
Thank you!

I am a sophomore, and beginning Running Start (program whereby starting in the junior year, WA students can attend a community college for high school credit) in September 2014. I am homeschooled, so I can only take two college courses under the program. If I win, can I use the scholarship to pay for more college courses?

If you have not yet completed high school, but are taking college classes for dual credit with the goal of eventually obtaining a degree, that is an acceptable use of the scholarship money. It sounds like that is the case with you, so you would be eligible. We look forward to receiving your entry!

Thanks! I submitted yesterday afternoon. When I didn’t get a confirmation email, I sent it again around 7pm. We’re in the west coast, though, so I’m not so sure about the time difference. I hope you got my essay. Thanks again.

Our offices closed for a while for New Years, which delayed confirmation emails for some. I assume you have received a confirmation email by now. If you haven’t, you essay was not received. Please send it again immediately, and we will still consider it.

Is there an expiration date on the scholarship if I win? Because I am a junior in high school and I want to apply, but I know some scholarships are only valid for one year. So should I wait until next year when I’m a senior?

Oh, oh. First: reading your rneposse to My Name is Red brought the book, and my own experience fo reading it, back so clearly that the only way *I* can respond is to read it again. Because that is what you have made me want to do. I loved My Name is Red; it’s my favorite of all of Pamuk’s wonderful books, each special in their own way, but this one perhaps because I love Persian miniatures, perhaps because I was close friends, at the time, with a woman from Shiraz who enlarged the stories for me and made them even more real, perhaps because I too was a calligrapher at one time was a love affair in the reading, and like a love affair has left its fragrance in my life.But I also appreciate what you’ve done here and said, the way you’ve constructed this post and spoken of your own memories. What greater tribute to a writer’s work, or to that deeply personal experience of reading and falling into a book that we realize will hold us, somehow, forever?

You are absolutely allowed to submit your essay as a Word document. MLA format refers to the style for formatting your citations. There are many excellent guides available online if you look up “MLA citation format.”

Howdy this is kind of of off topic but I was wondering if blogs use WYSIWYG
editors or if you have to manually code with HTML.
I’m starting a blog soon but have no coding knowledge so I wanted to get advice from someone with experience.
Any help would be enormously appreciated!

I submitted my entry a couple of months ago. When I submitted my entry, I was told to submit it to a different email than the one above (it was lauren.sabino@ncpa.org). Anyway, if I don’t submit it to the new email, will my essay be lost/not counted?

Hello, I am a high school sophomore and I was planning on dual enrolling in community college next year. Would I be able to use this scholarship for that, or am I only allowed to use it on a 4 year college?

Hello Ms. Stevens! I just wanted to ask, are we allowed to supplement our arguments with a touch of personal tone (in the form of anecdotes regarding personal experiences with the economy, etc.) or would the judges be in favor of a strictly formal approach to it with no personal pronouns?

Hi Daniel. You can include personal anecdotes if you believe they serve to improve your essay. There is no specific preferences regarding this; judging is based on overall writing quality and argumentative strength. I hope that helps! Thanks for your question.

[…] year’s contest asked students to write a 1,200 word essay on the subject “What policy changes should the government pursue in order to best foster economic prosperity?” Several readings were assigned to assist students in formulating their thoughts. Out of hundreds of […]

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We will be launching the 2014-2015 contest soon. If you would like to get started early, this year’s topic will be similar to last year’s, so familiarizing yourself with the readings and beginning to think about the relationship between individual freedom and social prosperity would be a good idea.

Hi Ellen, you should incorporate the reading, as well as any outside research you feel is appropriate. You are not required to use outside information, but it may improve the overall quality of your essay.

I’m a post graduate.I have done my master in 2008 .can I eligible for it ?and also I’m living in Karachi Pakistan can I participate in this essay contestand and also tell me about the age of the participants in this contest.what is the last date of submission of essay.

Hello. I found this essay scholarship on Scholarships.com and it states that there are four readings, but there are only two links on this website. So I was wondering if we need to use those four readings or just the two listed. Thank you.

Hi Elena- That must be a mistake left over from last year, when there was 4 readings. This year, there are only 2. You only need to worry about the readings linked on this page. I apologize for the confusion.

Hello, I am from Colombia and I graduated from high school on December, 2013. Since then I have been studying English and have not taken any university courses. Also, I have applied to study in the U.S. for Fall 2015. Am I elegible for this scholarship?

[…] The topic of this year’s essay contest is “Drawing on the readings, discuss the relationship between individual freedom and social/economic prosperity. Feel free to incorporate outside research.” Applicants are asked to read and engage with two short reading selections, available free at http://debate-central.ncpathinktank.org/yp14/. […]

Hi Denver, please use MLA citation formatting. That includes parentheticals. Use your judgment in terms of when you need citations– we will have the same expectations teachers would when writing an essay for school.

Hi Christian, if you do not have MS Word, a number of free mirror programs are available for download online. Open Office is one such option, but there are many others. You may also submit your essay via Google Docs, as long as it is sent to Rachel [dot] Stevens [at] NCPA.org.

[…] Remember first prize is worth $5,000, second prize is at $3,000 and the third prize is at $2,000. You can do it! Just don’t forget to submit your essays on or before January 5, 2015 at 11pm to Rachel.Stevens@npca.org. And make sure to check the other reminders here. […]

[…] Young Patriots Essay Contest Sponsor: National Center for Policy Analysis Amount: Up to $5,000 Deadline: Jan. 5, 2015 Description: Applicant must be current middle or high school student and must submit an essay on individual freedom and social/economic prosperity. […]

It will most likely be held on February 4, 2015. That date is subject to change. Winners are not required to attend the event in order to receive their award, but of course we would love to see everyone here in Dallas!

Are we also expected to cite the two required articles in our Works Cited page? If so, I’m having trouble finding the journal or program in which they were published. For example, in the example you have Goodman’s article on the drug industry as John Goodman’s Health Policy Blog. I’m not sure which blog/journal his other article was published in, as well as Landsburg’s article.

(This may have posted twice, sorry about that if it did) Also, are we allowed to address just economic or social prosperity, but not both? The slash between the two seems to indicate to me that that is possible but just making sure.

So since I’m a junior, if I won the scholarship I just wouldn’t be able to use it in 2016 when I go to college? Because in earlier comments it said that it’s only valid for one year. If that’s the case, why are people from grades 8 – 12 able to apply?

Any information saying it’s only valid for one year is outdated. Any middle or high school student is eligible, as long as they use the money for educational expenses upon entering college. If you are a junior, you can certainly use the scholarship in 2016. Sorry for the confusion!

When will we find out who the winners are? And do in-text citations count for the total word count? I don’t know if you’ve answered this but the comment section still says that my comment is “awaiting moderation.”

I sent in my entry on Saturday, but I didn’t get any sort of auto-reply at all. I re-sent it on Sunday just in case, but I still have not received any sort of auto-reply confirmation from you guys. What can I do?

[…] Young Patriots Essay ContestSponsor: National Centre for Policy AnalysisAward: Up to $5,000Deadline: Jan. 5, 2015Description: Applicant must be current middle or high school student and must submit an essay on individual freedom and social/economic prosperity. […]

Hello Madam,
I emailed my essay submission on January 2, 2015 and re-forwarded the email on January 16, 2015… However, I have not received any confirmation emails. Can you kindly check and confirm the receipt of my submission?

Hi,
I was wondering when we could expect to hear back from you. I saw above that it says mid-January or end of January. If I haven’t heard back should I assume I didn’t make it to the final three?
Thank you,
John

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